As many as 12 more persons, including 11 from Kashmir and one from Jammu, were on Tuesday tested positive for Coronavirus, taking the total number of infected people to 380 in J&K.
Strict restrictions on movement and assembly of people to curtail the spread of Coronavirus continued even as rapid antibody testing has begun in ‘Red Zone’ areas in Kashmir valley, where authorities have acted tough on people misusing movement passes.
An official on Tuesday said that 11 more people tested positive for Coronavirus in Kashmir division while one new case was reported from Jammu.
With this, he said the total number of infected persons has risen to 380. “Out of 380 positive cases, 324 are in Kashmir and 56 are in Jammu,” he said.
He said 10 persons were recovered on Tuesday, taking the total number to people who were successfully treated to 81.
Confirming the development, J&K UT spokesperson Rohit Kansal said, “12 new cases- 11 from Kashmir 1 from Jammu division (Kathua). 10 recoveries too. Total cases now 380. Jammu Division-56 and Kashmir Division-324.”
Over 30 movement passes issued to officials and others were cancelled on Monday in Srinagar after being found to be misused during Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary’s surprise inspection around the city.
A 70-year-old patient died on Friday due to Coronavirus in Kashmir valley, taking the total number of deaths due to the infection to five in J&K.
Bandipora is the worst COVID-19 hit district in the Union Territory of J&K with over 90 positive cases and one death. Of these, over 36 per cent of positive cases have been reported from Dangerpora in Bandipora, prompting authorities to put about 150 people in hospital and administrative quarantine. The rest of the people from Dangerpora have been put in home quarantine.
Officials said that 80 Red Zones were identified in Kashmir Division and that such areas will remain red zones up to 42 days, unless no new positive case of COVID-19 is detected. “If any new case is detected in these areas, then from that date, the area will again remain a red zone for another 42 days,” they added.
The Coronavirus cases in Kashmir valley crossed the 300-mark with 14 more persons testing positive on Monday. As many as 118 people, including 111 from Kashmir and seven from Jammu, were tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Meanwhile, 138 people, mostly from Kashmir, were tested positive for COVID-19 in J&K between April 6 and April 12. Thirty-three new positive cases, including 28 from Kashmir and three from Jammu, were reported on April 4 and April 5, making it one of the highest jumps in the COVID-19 infected persons in J&K.
J&K recorded first death due to COVID-19 on March 25, when a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora died due to the infection at Chest Disease Hospital. Then, on March 29, a 50-year-old man, a resident of Tangmarg, passed away at CD hospital.
Earlier this month, a 54-year-old Bandipora resident, who was tested positive for the infection, died at SMHS hospital. Later on April 8, a 61-year-old woman from Udhampur died at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu.